WASHINGTON, Dec 22 (Reuters) - Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has instructed Egypt's U.N. mission to postpone a Security Council vote on a draft resolution demanding an end to Israeli settlements, a western diplomat told Reuters on Thursday.

Egypt had circulated the draft on Wednesday evening and the 15-member council had been due to vote at 3 p.m. (2000 GMT) on Thursday. It was unclear how the United States, which has traditionally protected Israel from U.N. action, planned to vote.